Star Witness Against George Zimmerman Flops Big Time

The New American ^ | 28 June 2013 | Alex Newman

[VitacoreVision]

Rachel Jeantel

Rachel Jeantel, the prosecution's "star witness" against George Zimmerman, endured an embarrassing grilling both inside the Florida courtroom and in the national media.

Star Witness Against George Zimmerman Flops Big Time

The New American
28 June 2013

The prosecution's "star witness" against former neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman, accused of murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, endured an embarrassing grilling both inside the Florida courtroom and in the national media. From potentially incriminating social-media posts publicized by reporters to major gaffes during her testimony, Rachel Jeantel, 19 (shown), has sparked even more criticism of what legal experts say appears to be an overzealous bid to convict Zimmerman regardless of the evidence supporting his claims of self-defense.

First, reporters uncovered a Twitter account used by Jeantel, who was on the phone with Martin shortly before he was killed and has been repeatedly described as prosecutors' "star" witness in the case. While dozens of the expletive-laced and potentially incriminating messages were deleted or "scrubbed" in recent days, the controversial posts were captured by journalists before being taken down. Jeantel tweeted about everything from "getting high" and drug use to underage drinking and apparent drunk driving.

Inside the courtroom, matters went even worse for prosecutors. Among other controversies, the key witness was forced to admit in cross-examination that she could not understand the handwriting in a letter that she supposedly "wrote" about the killing. "I don't read cursive," she responded when Zimmerman's defense attorney asked Jeantel if she could read the document. The witness claimed that a friend had helped her write it, but media accounts said the explosive revelation sent a "hush" through the courtroom.

Jeantel's testimony also revealed other major holes in the prosecution's case. For example, while the establishment media and race-profiteers have been fiendishly trying to paint Zimmerman, who is Hispanic, as a racist, Jeantel said that Martin had in fact made a racist comment about Zimmerman over the phone. According to the witness, Martin told her there was a "creepy-a** cracker" following him. Cracker, of course, is generally considered a racist term used to describe whites.

There were also some apparent contradictions in Jeantel's story — major ones. During her testimony, for instance, she claimed that shortly before the shooting, she heard Martin ask Zimmerman "why are you following me?" After that, Jeantel claimed she heard Martin tell Zimmerman to "get off!" Under cross-examination by the defense, however, Jeantel alleged that she had not mentioned the supposed remarks in earlier statements because she did not think they were important. In a taped interview with prosecutors before the trial, Jeantel had also said she "couldn't hear" Martin tell Zimmerman to get off.

While on the witness stand, Jeantel even admitted to telling several lies under oath. Defense attorney Don West pointed out that the witness, who had known Martin since elementary school, lied to Martin's mother about her age, claiming she was 16 when she was in fact two years older than that. Jeantel also told Martin's mother that she did not attend the funeral due to hospitalization, which was untrue as well. The witness claimed the lies were told because of how she felt.

Unsurprisingly, defense attorneys seized on the testimony to argue that Jeantel was an unreliable witness. West, co-counsel for Zimmerman, also suggested that Jeantel did not call the police after hearing the confrontation "because Trayvon Martin started the fight, and you knew that." Jeantel responded by denying the accusation and saying she did not know what West was talking about. Eventually, Jeantel was finally forced to admit under oath that she did not know who started the fight.

In the court of public opinion, meanwhile, the "star" witness was being grilled as well. The Smoking Gun, an online service that publicizes "exclusive documents," managed to track down Jeantel's profiles on social media services. In a series of explosive reports, the site exposed numerous Twitter posts by the witness that were embarrassing at the very least — and incriminating at worst. The account was promptly scrubbed, but the damage was done.

"Party time let get high," one of the posts read. Another said: "Omg everybody high" followed by "Lol we going to hell for smoke on Sunday I need some more drink." Separate tweets apparently referring to driving while under the influence were also deleted. "I hope I dnt hit no one tonight lord plz watch my driving," Jeantel reportedly wrote. "Just got home thank u lord good night," she added later. Numerous pictures and expletive-filled comments were deleted as well.

Legal experts have been blasting the prosecution and its alleged ethical violations since long before the trial began. In the wake of Jeantel's embarrassing testimony, however, more than a few analysts even suggested the witness and her statements may have actually benefited Zimmerman. Kevin Martin, a member of the conservative-leaning Project 21 black leadership network, which was formed after the L.A. riots, was among the commentators suggesting that Jeantel could have hurt the prosecution.

"To say that Miss Jeantel's testimony was anything other than a fiasco would be an understatement,” Martin said in statement distributed by the National Center for Public Policy Research. "The prosecution did a real disservice to the memory of Trayvon Martin in apparently not preparing Rachel Jeantel well enough to testify. To the casual observer, it seems that Miss Jeantel did not have any understanding of the gravity of testifying in this trial."

Meanwhile, Jeantel's demeanor in court — described in media reports as "annoyed," "confused," "combative," "hostile," and more — was probably not helpful to prosecutors either. Among the more controversial comments: referring to the defense attorney as "the bald man" and answering questions with remarks like "that's retarded."

"Her seeming contempt for the proceedings of the court itself was detrimental," Project 21's Martin continued. "While some outside observers were very critical of the defense's tactics early on, it must be remembered that the burden is not really on the defense here as much as it is on the prosecution to prepare their star witness. It seems that did not happen here."

Some legal analysts suggested that West may have been too hard on Jeantel during cross examination — especially considering the controversial selection of an all-female jury, which might sympathize with her. At one point, for example, the defense asked the witness whether she was feeling OK after the previous day's testimony. In a question that might have sounded like it was aimed at making Jeantel sound ridiculous, West asked her "what wet grass sounds like," a question based on her previous statements.

The defendant has argued from the start that Martin brutally attacked him and bashed his head on the ground on February 26, 2012, leading Zimmerman, 29, to shoot in self-defense. Photographs of the injuries and other evidence appear to corroborate those claims, legal experts have said. Zimmerman was not even arrested until more than 40 days after the incident — not until race-profiteers and deceptive media coverage tried to inject alleged racism into the case.

The prosecution, meanwhile, is trying to prove that Zimmerman profiled the unarmed 17-year-old, followed him, and then murdered him with a "depraved mind showing no regard for human life." With much of the key evidence now out in the open — Jeantel's testimony, the 911 call, and more — the trial is expected to last at least another week, possibly more.

The judge ruled that defense attorneys cannot talk about Martin's history of drug use, school suspensions, and more. Also not admissible: testimony based on novel techniques that could supposedly identify Martin as the person screaming that night. If convicted by the jury on charges of second-degree murder, Zimmerman could face life in prison.


Related articles:

Amid Controversy, Zimmerman Murder Trial Begins

Judge in Trayvon Martin Case Rules Some Evidence Off Limits

First Anniversary of Florida Shooting Still Raises Questions

Zimmerman Injury Photo Raises Questions About Prosecution, Media

Racists Prepare for "Race War" Over Florida Shooting

Experts Weigh in After Four Witnesses in Trayvon Martin Case Change Story

Medical Report Shows Martin Attacked Zimmerman

Dershowitz: Prosecutor Should Drop Charges Against Zimmerman

Democrat Anti-Self-Defense "Trayvon Amendment" on Hold, For Now

"Stand Your Ground" and Self Defense

Florida "Stand Your Ground" Task Force Meets, Democrat Wants Changes

Anti-Gun Zealots Exploit Florida Tragedy

UN "Human Rights" Boss Questions Fla. Law, Demands Justice for Trayvon

Prosecutors In Zimmerman Case Release Affidavit, But Face Trouble Getting Conviction

Zimmerman Charged With Second-Degree Murder

[Antihero101607]

At least someone in the media is honestly reporting their “star” witness was more like a “moon.”

That’s no moon, it’s a space station.

[ASA Vet]

She said "creepy ass-cracker" which is not racial.

In Feral Urban Youth (FUY) speak "creepy" means pervert and "ass-cracker" refers to homosexual sodomy.

That usage also explains her implication that St. Travon might get raped, and his response to "stop playing me."

[zencycler]

The timeline Rachel established (he was already near home after the next to last call) is an excellent point, and establishes the likelihood that TM made a conscious decision to not go home and to confront Zimmerman, which is likely exactly what happened

Regarding your other point, also a good one, the defense would need to be careful about how they referred to his possible motivations for not going home, since once they start planting the suggestion that TM wanted to beat up on this creepy, cracker, gay rapist because of his sexual orientation, then I'm sure the judge would sustain an objection of this being highly speculative or something like that. But whatever they can get in before the objection is made may be worthwhile for the jury to hear. Sure, they're supposed to ignore it now, but we all know how that goes.

[jiggyboy]

Among the more controversial comments: referring to the defense attorney as "the bald man"

In fact, she was describing prosecution attorney Bernie De La Rionda (bald), one of many people present at one of her interviews, to defense attorney Don West (pictured in reply #2) here (also bald).

The author has confused the meanings of "controversial" and "humorous" here as well.

[zencycler]

Oddly, few have pointed out GM's error in not identifying himself as with the neighborhood watch, introducing himself by name, and explaining his interest in TM

From all the evidence I've heard, this is the only thing that I'm sure Zimmerman did wrong. Some others (not me) might also add things like "following" or "carrying a gun" to this list. But while folks on the jury might be sure of that Zimmerman was wrong for some of these things, I hope that they all recognize that NONE of them are either illegal or a justification for Martin's use of force against Zimmerman.

It's amazing to me just how many folks I hear, including some media talking heads, ridiculously argue that Zimmerman's bad judgments leading up to the encounter make him automatically guilty for the death that followed, regardless of what Trayvon may have done.

They'd be better off arguing that he bears some degree of moral responsibility for this death. But there's a world of difference between saying that and saying he is guilty of second degree murder that night simply because he decided to carry a gun, follow, and/or not properly identify himself. This wouldn't come across as a crazy argument, and like I said, I'd even agree with Zim bearing some moral responsibility for TM's death as it relates to the non-identification issue. We know that there were some words exchanged before the beat down, so he did have a chance to do this, and based on how long he'd been involved in performing these duties, he should have had a script ready for something like this.

[jiggyboy]

But I doubt NBC will be acknowledging that.

GZ's lawsuit against them on just that matter is intended to force them to acknowledge it with a six-figure payment.

[jiggyboy]

So far so good. The Scheme Team, after months of well-documented statements that it was all about race, suddenly turned on a dime and held a press conference that same night that “creepy-ass cracka” became the phrase of the day to express their shock, shock that anybody could think that it had anything to do with race.

[jiggyboy]

Oddly, few have pointed out GM's error in not identifying himself as with the neighborhood watch, introducing himself by name, and explaining his interest in TM.

We might find out that he never had the chance, that Trashcan was on him so quickly and with no desire whatsoever to ask or answer any questions.

[JoeProBono]

[jiggyboy]

Probably from the same slush fund that paid for the new braces she started complaining about just a few months after she started doing interviews and depositions with the prosecution and Trashcan’s lawyers.

[Ditter]

I watched a panel of 6 people discuss the case on TV, 4 liberal women and 2 conservative men.

The women thought Jeantel was brilliant and the men thought she was.......... what we think she is, a disaster.

The liberal women should be embarrassed.

[jiggyboy]

STACKS @ChinaStacks 26 Jun
Who this fat girl on the stand? Her tongue dangling and s***

https://twitter.com/ChinaStacks

[dragnet2]

The prosecution desperately needs a slogan:

“If he’s a cracker, he must be the attacker”

[caww]

IMO it's too early to know how the prosecutor is going to play this....remember things seemed to be laughable with Casey Anthony's attorney as well, very early on and throughout...but he brought the gold home in the end.

[JoeProBono]

[houeto]

They twitter from their bommaphones.

[Charles H. (The_r0nin)]

She said "creepy ass-cracker" which is not racial.

In Feral Urban Youth (FUY) speak "creepy" means pervert and "ass-cracker" refers to homosexual sodomy.

Ummm, no. The cadence in this lingo is creepy-ass cracker (not the way you have it), with "creepy-ass" referring to his behavior (i.e. his "creepy-assed self") and cracker referring to his race. No offense intended, but you're way off here. Like ridiculously so...

[Uncle Chip]

She may have admitted to more on the witness stand than her arrogant self thinks.

She said that if Trayvon were to get into a fight he would hang up the phone and then call back.

How does she know that??? Have they done it before???.

[William Tell]

ASA Vet said: That usage also explains her implication that St. Travon might get raped, and his response to "stop playing me."

Hmmm...

This hadn't occurred to me. Perhaps the key term then is "ass-cracker", referring to assaultive anal sex and the term doesn't bear any relation to "crackah", being a white person. Had the witness been slightly more articulate perhaps she could have explained this.

How ironic it would be if the witness was completely unaware of the racist content of "crackah" and actually couldn't understand the defense's concern.

[Rockingham]

I get the impression from the police witnesses that Neighborhood Watch training and relations with the police are limited due to liability concerns. If so, Zimmerman can hardly be blamed even in a moral sense for not acting as a trained cop would. Given the media attention, I am surprised at the lack of any relevant professional experts being put on camera.